Hospital taking family to court for $1.2 million bill

[Guest guest]

Hospital taking family to court for $1.2 million bill

KPNX-12 - Phoenix,AZ*

Andy Harvey

12 News

Feb. 13, 2008

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/milliondollarbill021320

08-CR.html

While most eight year old boys are playing outside,

Jr. endures pain from a severe fungus infection.

Father Sr. said, " It's been the most difficult thing

in our life. "

Little has been at Phoenix Children's Hospital intensive care

unit since August. His troubles started last summer in June. His

family, who had immigrated to Florida from Honduras three years ago,

noticed the boy's pain. They took him to a hospital in New York.

There, doctors found a mass. advertisement

Sr. said, " It's kind of like a tumor mass that's right here

(pointing to his chest). "

The family thought it was cancer, but it was diagnosed as

tuberculosis and treatment was started. But while on a visit to

Phoenix during the late summer, became more sick. He was

taken to Phoenix Children's Hospital. His father said doctors there

discovered the mass was not caused by tuberculosis. Instead, it was

created by a form of fungus, so new treatment was initiated. Little

's troubles didn't stop there though. Sr. said his son

had to undergo an emergency surgery to relieve pressure from the

mass on the boy's spinal cord. Also, the medication he's taking put

too much strain on his organs.

All of these treatments have created a $1.2 million dollar hospital

bill. Sr. said their insurance ran out after it was maxed out

at the other hospital in New York.

Sr. said, " It has topped off and there is still a huge

balance. "

He said they tried meeting with hospital administrators three times

to figure out how to pay for the huge bill. Last month he sent a

letter to the hospital on what could be done. However, Sr.

claims one administrator gave them a hard time and kept questioning

their green card, refusing to help figure out a payment plan.

Yesterday, the family received an order to appear in court which was

filed by the hospital. According to the documents, it accuses the

family of not paying for the bill and being uncooperative.

Sr. said, " They told us to apply for Access and we did that.

That's one form of cooperation. "

The frustrated father said they've paid $8,000.00 so far and asked

about charity assistance the hospital offers, but he said

administrators never got back to him.

Phoenix Children's Hospital could not comment on the story because

of patient confidentiality laws. However, they said they still plan

to provide services for the boy. Meantime, Sr. said he now

has to hire a lawyer and face legal cost in addition to medical

costs.

Sr. said, " I cannot try more. What else can I do? I go into

the office. I ask for new resources. I've done everything in my

power. I even paid part of the money that I don't have so that they

see my good faith. "

[Guest guest]

What would have happened if the family had not taken their child to the

hospital?